Violin-tailpiece



A. S. FILSON.

VIOLIN TMLPIECE.

Pup/mow FILED APR. l4, I920.

Patented Feb. I 22, 1921.

BY @QQW ATTORNEY U IT D STATES PATENT OFFICE,

ALBERT FILSON, OF SAN DI EGO, CALIFORNIAQ VIOLIN-TAIIQPIECE.

provements are: First, to provide a means for supporting thee string of a violin which will hold it in tension its full length and providefortaking it up atthe end where it is most liable to wear because of usage which means may be easily,-cheaply and eco nomically' manufactured; second, to provide a more simple and efficient device for the purposes set forth; third, to provide a device of this class which is more durable and which will not so readily deteriorate or get out of order- With these and other objects in view as may appear hereinafter my invention consists of certain novel features of construo' tioneonibination and arrangement of parts andportions as will be hereinafter described in detail and particularly set forth in the appended claims reference being had tothe accompanying drawings and to the charactors of referencethereon which form a part of this application in which; I

Figure 1 is a perspective view ofa frag- ,nientary tail end portion of a violin showing my improved tail piece mounted thereon in position for use; Fig. 2 is a top or plan view of the tail piece complete with a fragmentary portion of the strings in position thereon on an. enlarged scale; Fig. 3 is aside ele vational view thereof: Fig. 4 is a sectional view through 4-4; of Fig. 2' and Fig. 5 is a sectional view through 5--5 of Fig.

Similar characters of reference refer to similar parts and portions throughout the several views of the drawings.

The main supporting member 1, reel 2, latch 3 and supporting pin 4 constitute the parts of my violin tail piece. The main supportin member 1 is of the conventional shape an form, except that it is provided with an integral upwardly extendin circular lug portion 1 which is provide with an annular groove 1 therein and with a Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed 'April 14, 1920. Serial No. 373,754.

transverse, dovetailed slot 1 in its normally upward end in which is reciprocably mounted a conforming. dovetail shaped latch member 3 adapted to move endwise in said slot but preventing its removal upwardly. It is provided with a central lug portion to facilitate its movement by hand. Revolubly mounted around this lug portion 1 is a reel member 2 which is supported in position thereon by means of a pin 4: which passes through the side wall of said reel and its middle portion extends into'the slot 1 thus preventing its movement upwardly on said lug member but permits its revoluble movement thereon thus supporting the one side thereof. The other side of said reel is provided with a hole 2 adapted for the end of the a string of the instrument to pass through and the end of this string forms a support for the other side of the reel from the pin 4 for holding it in position on said lug. This reel is provided with a plurality of recesses 2*. In this case I have shown three into which the ends of the latch 3 are adapted to protrude for supporting the reel in position. The a string of the violin is wound upon this reel preferably from the lower side up and then back to the lower side again, then passes through the slot 1 in the support 1 and the free end of the string passes over the violin supports in the usual manner and is secured to the head end of the violin in the ordinary manner. It will be noted that this reel may be turned and let out the 6 string of the instrument as desired and supported by the latch 3, engaging the notches 9. in the reel so that when the end of thest-ring wears that portion may be cut out, the reel released and a portion of the string unwound and the end fastened again and that the part wound onthe reel is held taut and in tension so that it does not have to be stretched and adjusted when in use.

It is obvious that with this construction there is provided a tail piece in which the main support may be molded preferably of hard rubber with the lug in position and forming .an integral portion thereof thus providing for the easy and ready manufacture ofthe tail piece; that there are only four pieces, all of which can be manufactured from hard rubber which is the preferable construction and that each piece is so constructed and shaped that they may be readily molded. r

Having thus described my invention What I claim as new and desire to secure by Let' ters Patent is:

l. A stringed instrument tail piece, provided with an extended integral circular lug provided with an annular slot surrounding its base, a reel rerolubly mounted on said lug and a latch member reeiproeably mounted in a notch in said lug portion adapted to engage notches in said reel for supporting it against revoluble movement.

2. A stringed instrument tail piece, pro vided with an extended integral circular lug provided with an annular slot surrounding i 5 base and dovetailed slot transversely tnereiin all molded of hard rubber, a reel rerolubly mounted on said lug provided with a plurality of notches therein and a latch member reeiproeably mounted in said dovetailed slot in said lug adapted to engage one of the note-hes in said reel for supporting said reel against revolution.

in testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at San Diego California this 7th day of April 19:20.

ALBERT S. FILSON. 

